Leicester Tigers’ players and staff to take 25% pay cut during Coronavirus outbreak

By Samuel Gill

Leicester Tigers have joined six fellow Premiership clubs to announce that they will take a 25% pay cut during the Coronavirus pandemic in order to help the club through what will be a barren period for most sporting clubs across the country.

On Friday (MAR20), Gloucester, Saracens, Wasps and Worcester all announced a similar move from next month, while Bristol Bears also confirmed a separate deal with an undisclosed amount being cut.

This comes after all levels of rugby were postponed until at least 14 April due to Coronavirus and in a statement, executive chairman Peter Tom CBE said that the aforementioned measures are ‘necessary’ to help the club survive.

He said in a statement: “Faced with a situation where we cannot generate income from rugby activities while still having our own costs to meet, regrettably the Board believes it is necessary to reduce both working hours and salaries by 25% for all staff and players with effect from 1 April.

“The loss of income from ticket sales and other matchday activities costs the Club a figure of between £300,000 and £400,000 per home game; taking lost revenues beyond £1million solely for this period in March-April when three home games have already been postponed.

“Measures of this type are not restricted to Tigers, with many clubs and businesses elsewhere having to implement similar plans during this period of disruption and we will work closely to find solutions where this decision causes exceptional hardship for any staff member.

“The players and staff remain at the heart of the Club and this is an extremely difficult decision to make, but it is felt this is the only appropriate course of action available to protect the current workforce and maintain the strength of our Club for the longer term.”